Jauntlet.comhttps://jauntlet.com/Arrive in BNE from Rome. Home!https://jauntlet.com//43134https://jauntlet.com//43134Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0400Day 38 - A 4 hr 40 min layover in Dubai en route to BNE.https://jauntlet.com//43579https://jauntlet.com//43579Sun, 28 Oct 2012 06:00:00 +0400Day 37 - Home time ! Our cab to the Leonardo Da Vinci (Fiumicino) International Airport cost me €50 which was slightly more than the cost of the air train but the convenience was worth it. We arrived at the airport on time, checked our luggage in and then proceeded to have dinner at McDonald's. Time was quickly going against us, so after going through the slow passport and security check points, we proceeded to the tax bureau so I could lodge my tax refund forms. This proved to be a slow process as only one Officer was rostered on. Time was really ticking away as we were scheduled to board soon. I asked an Asian girl if I could go ahead of her, but she declined. Eventually another Officer took over and he was a lot quicker. When I eventually made it to him, he wanted to inspect my goods. I only had done of these, and seeing the big line of people behind me, he relented and thankfully stamped my forms. We then rushed to our departure lounge and queued up to board the plane - thankfully on time. We then left Rome a few minutes late for Dubai. Arriverdici Roma!https://jauntlet.com//43771https://jauntlet.com//43771Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0200https://jauntlet.com//43578https://jauntlet.com//43578Sat, 27 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0200Day 36 - 20:08 Arrive Latina for a quick stop on way back to Rome.https://jauntlet.com//43769https://jauntlet.com//43769Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:00:00 +0200Day 36 - 18:45 Arrive Rome Termini to a wet, raining Rome. We proceeded on the Metro to Barberini Metro Station (Trevi Fountain) where we went to pick up my photo etching I had bought for Louise. We then went to the cheap "Fasta Pasta" styled restaurant but on seeing the quality of the food, we had dinner at the adjacent That's Amore Ristorante. This was a nice meal where I enjoyed a carbonarra pasta dish with loads of pepper to it. Tara had a mushroom risotto and Jaydee had a lasagne. Entree was a small neapolitan pizza. After dinner, we boarded the Metro for the return to our hotel. This was a huge day out, but thoroughly educational. https://jauntlet.com//43770https://jauntlet.com//43770Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:00:00 +0200Day 36 - 19:00 Arrive Aversa for a quick stop on way back to Rome.https://jauntlet.com//43767https://jauntlet.com//43767Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0200Day 36 - 19:35 Arrive Formia-Gaeta for a quick stop on way back to Rome. https://jauntlet.com//43768https://jauntlet.com//43768Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0200Day 36 - 18:37 We arrived back at Napoli Centrale and Tara noticed a train leaving from Platform 15 for Roma at 18:42. We quickly ran for this train and boarded it on time. As it turned out, the train left Napoli a few minutes late. Unfortunately, it is not a high speed train unlike this morning's trip. I'm not looking forward to the 2 1/2 journey back to Roma. https://jauntlet.com//43766https://jauntlet.com//43766Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:00:00 +0200https://jauntlet.com//43765https://jauntlet.com//43765Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:00:00 +0200Day 36 - Naples. 10:19 Arrived Napoli Centrale - a very quick trip! I was then guided by man to departure platform for Pompei costing €2. 10:41 Departed Napoli Garibaldi on the Sorrento train for Pompei. https://jauntlet.com//43576https://jauntlet.com//43576Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200Day 36 - Rome Day 3. Roma to Napoli to Roma. We awoke and left out hotel got a quick breakfast at our cafe. Today is an overcast day unlike our last few days in Rome which have been warm and sunny. We made our way to the orange Metro and took a train one stop to Termini where we then boarded the 9:05 high speed train for Napoli. I had not pre-booked our seats for this trip and consequently had to pay €36 to the guard when he duly came around to inspect our tickets. https://jauntlet.com//43575https://jauntlet.com//43575Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0200https://jauntlet.com//43574https://jauntlet.com//43574Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0200Day 34 - After awaking, we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at Bar Trani consisting of a croissant and cappuccino with an English Breakfast tea for Tara and a hot chocolate for Tara. We found the Metro Station (Vittorio Emmanuel) and took the orange train to the Vatican Station (Ottaviano "San Pietro"). We then had a brief walk to find the correct entrance. After joining a big queue, we passed through security and I was directed to the ticket Office by a Policeman and then a Swiss Guard. Sure enough, our tickets for the Pope's General Audience were there. At 10:00am, we had a number of announcements from various Cardinals (I think), in various languages on the different groups and guests that were attending today's audience. Unfortunately, Australia did not get a mention. When the English speaking guests were announced, by coincidence one of the Churches announced was St Boniface from Anaheim California - the same Church I attended whilst Lou and I were visiting America (Disneyland). The Japanese contingent were quite funny right up the front waving their flags and cheering as they were announced. Just after 10:30, His Holiness appeared via his Pope Mobile which did a lap of St Peter's Square before incredibly driving up the stairs to the Pope's stage. I was amazed at how close he passed to us an I was able to take some great photos. The Pope made the sign of the cross and the Cardinals each read the same passage from St Mark's Gospel in a different language. It was the passage where Jesus admonished the non believing apostles after His Resurrection. The Pope then read his message at length in Italian which he then summarised in each of the various languages. He also acknowledged some of the special guests and groups attending today. The Pope finished his audience with a blessing in Latin for us, our sick people, our loved ones back home, and also blessed our objects. Unfortunately, I had left my Rosary Beads in my jeans at the hotel, but I did hold out my crucifix to bless. It was approx 11:50am when the Audience had finished. We then made our way out of the Vatican with the large crowds and then made our way back to the Train Station for our visit to the Colosseum. On the way, I stopped at a bank which had an unusual entry via an air lock revolving door. I then withdrew €200 Euro. I also bought Tara and I a Rome Pass costing €30 each. I was told Jaydee would be free and did not require a pass. We then boarded the Metro for the Colosseum. We then alighted and had a cheap lunch opposite the Colosseum just outside the Colosseum Metro Station. Afternoon tour at the Colosseum. Went for a walk to see the Roman Forum, stopping for 3 chocolate gelatis on the way. I was severely ripped off with our gelatis costing us €15! I had a big argument with the owner accusing him of ripping us off to the point of swearing to him to no avail. We then made our way to The Pantheon which was a sight to see. After this, we walked to the Trevi Fountain. This was a highlight of Rome for us as we came back here a few nights. We enjoyed dinner at the Trattoria Scavolino snc after viewing the Fountain. Following dinner, we stumbled on a gelati place on the way back to the Metro. The name of this place was Gelateria Valentino. The proprietor's name was Valentino and he was s friendly, especially how he talked to Jaydee. The gelatis here were the best I have ever tasted and a great highlight of Rome. I ended up telling Valentino the story of how I was ripped off this day with the gelatis near The Forum. He then reiterated a story how some tourists paid €50 for 3 gelatis near the Spanish Steps. A least the quality, prices and flavour of Valentino's gelatis restored my faith in Rome's gelati merchants. Valentino's gelatis were so good that we ended up coming here no less than 3 times whilst we were in Rome. Highly recommended! https://jauntlet.com//43573https://jauntlet.com//43573Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0200https://jauntlet.com//43530https://jauntlet.com//43530Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:00:00 +0200Day 33 - We made it back to Firenze S.M.N. earlier than we had originally scheduled and had a cool drink at McDonalds located in the terminus. As we had some time on our hands, we then walked back to the Ponte Vecchio where Tara had her ring readjusted. We then walked back to our hotel stopping to have a gelati on the way. After picking up our bags from our hotel, Marco (Hotel Proprietor) kindly ordered a taxi for us to take us back to Firenze S.M.N. Our taxi arrived a few minutes later and we were back at the Station approx 5:20pm well on time for our 5:48pm train to Roma Termini. I quickly bought my souvenir of Florence and we made our way to our train which had arrived at Platform 10 a few minutes late which impacted on our departure time. A man assisted me with loading our luggage on the train (carriage 1) which cost me a €4 tip. Our train left for Rome a few minutes late due to its late arrival earlier.https://jauntlet.com//43764https://jauntlet.com//43764Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0200Day 33 - Arrived Empoli for a quick stop on way back to Florence.https://jauntlet.com//43763https://jauntlet.com//43763Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0200Day 33 - Arrived Poggibonsi for a quick stop on way back to Florence.https://jauntlet.com//43760https://jauntlet.com//43760Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0200Day 33 - Arrived Certaldo for a quick stop on way back to Florence. https://jauntlet.com//43761https://jauntlet.com//43761Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0200Day 33 - Arrived Castelfiorentino for a quick stop on way back to Florence.https://jauntlet.com//43762https://jauntlet.com//43762Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0200Day 33 - 9:54 Arrived Castelfiorentino for a quick stop on way to Siena.https://jauntlet.com//43756https://jauntlet.com//43756Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200